Search form

Simon Dumont is synonymous with half-pipe skiing. The Maine native is widely credited with pioneering the huge amplitude and double corks now seen in every halfpipe competition. (Photo: Brian Nevins/Red Bull Content Pool)

David Wise clinched a nomination to the first-ever U.S. Freeskiing Olympic team Sunday with his victory in the snowy halfpipe final at the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix presented by The North Face at Breckenridge.

The nation’s leading freeskiing athletes continue the battle for Olympic team spots Jan. 8-12 when the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix presented by The North Face heads to Breckenridge for the third of five Olympic qualification events.

Nick Goepper became the first skier to secure a spot on the first-ever U.S. Freeskiing Olympic team Saturday with his second-place finish in the slopestyle final at the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix presented by The North Face.

David Wise led a full-throttle U.S. sweep of the first-ever halfpipe skiing Olympic qualifier at the Dew Tour iON Mountain Championships Saturday night at Breckenridge with Aaron Blunck and Lyman Currier finishing second and third.

Sponsors

Additional Info

Simon Dumont Websites

Athlete Photo Gallery

When it comes to halfpipe skiing, no discussion is complete without mentioning Simon Dumont. The Maine native has owned the sport over the past decade with ten Winter X Games medals, including two golds (and another gold for Big Air). He also holds the record for highest air on the quarter pipe and was the 2009 AFP overall champion.

Along with his numerous podiums, Dumont's biggest accomplishment has been his influence on the sport's progression. He took halfpipe skiing to new heights—literally—as his gravity-defying amplitude set a new bar for halfpipe skiers. When other competitors stepped up their airs, Dumont stayed ahead of the curve by mastering the double cork, a trick very few skiers at the time were even attempting.

After knocking on the podium door at 2012 events, Dumont suffered a knee injury, sidelining him for the bulk of the season. Recovering strong from his knee injury, Dumont was full of enthusiasm at the first 2013 season event, Dew Tour at Breckenridge, when he suffered a severely broken wrist on his right hand. Then he shattered his left hand and continued to ski with two taped-up wrists. It worked out well. He placed third at X Games Aspen, skiing without the benefit of poles, and then went on to ski well for the rest of his season.

SIMON SAYSOverall, I feel pretty good about this season. There were definitely some ups and downs. It was tough to take nine months off to recover from ACL surgery, get back into the pipe for a few weeks, only to have to take over a month off again after I injured my wrists. To overcome all of that and then to take third at X Games and place in the top seven consistently feels good. I think I’m right where I need to be. Mentally, I’m stronger than ever. My goal is to learn a couple more tricks before the Olympics, get to Sochi and bring home a medal.

FIRST TRACKSDumont has been skiing since before he can remember. "My mom strapped me into a harness, put some skis on me, and taught me how to ski. I don’t remember it, but that’s how it all began.”

OFF THE SNOW Dumont spends the majority of his free time working on his glove line, Empire Attire. He says to “be on the lookout for some big announcements in the near future.” In the off-season he also works on planning and perfecting his annual ski competition, The Dumont Cup. The fifth event happened in March 2013. “The event was initially created to showcase New England’s top amateur skiers. Since that time, we’ve had hundreds of athletes compete – several of who have since gone pro - and attracted talent from all over the World. Each year, I’m more proud and impressed with what this contest has accomplished.”